Barry County
Barry County Extension
206 West Court Street
Hastings, MI 49058-1824 /

P: (269) 945-1388F: (269) 948-3323

/ E-mail:

http://www.msue.msu.edu/barry

December 2007

Barry County 4-H has room for everyone

The Barry County 4-H Program has over a thousand 4-H members from ages of 5 to 19 in 60 active 4-H clubs. The 4-H Program is open to all youths, regardless of their backgrounds, including youngsters who’ve overcome disabilities to excel.
Alexis Hott is a great example. She’s a 13-year-old in her fifth year of 4-H. She wears a brace to manage her scoliosis (curvature of the spine), but doesn’t let it stop her from taking part in swine, cats, rabbits, chickens, beef, crafts, photography, foods, talent show, pocket pets and teen leadership.
4-H has given Alexis self confidence which has helped her greatly in learning to wear a brace. She has became responsible, patient, independent, has gained project knowledge and skills and to do her best through 4-H.
Chad Myers had a closed head injury as an infant. He was developmentally delayed and as a result, has a language processing deficiency. He joined 4-H at the age of 13 and was an active member for 10 years until he graduated from high school at age 23.
4-H opened a world of opportunities for Chad, who was a member for 10 years. 4-H helped him relate to others and, according to his mom, Mary, “The 4-H program helped form who he is.” / Chad was involved in shooting sports, crafts, rockets, small engines, woodworking and blacksmithing. He appreciated the opportunity to stay in 4-H and learned leadership through helping others in rockets and shooting sports. His involvement in leadership and shooting sports drew him to his current career in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Ten-year-old 4-H’er Zachary Carlson has gained self confidence, and knowledge of dog care and obedience along with showmanship skills through 4-H. In 2006 he exhibited his Paws with a Cause service dog Sera, at the Barry County fair.
Zachary, who has muscular dystrophy and scoliosis, was like every other kid in the show ring vying for that blue ribbon with Sera. It was a great experience for Zachary who doesn’t seek attention. He was in the spotlight and didn’t really realize it. He felt that his dog Sera was the one in the spotlight!
Brian is a 12-year old autistic boy who has shown pigs in 4-H for two years. He lives in the barn during fair week and loves 4-H. He never left his pigs during the fair and was everyone’s friend. The swine judge told him that he was having more fun than anyone else in the ring during judging.
He became knowledgeable about pigs, learned how to market his project, gained self confidence, overcame shyness through public speaking and learned about working as a team through his 4-H club.
Continued
/ Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. Offices in counties across the state link the research of the land-grant university, MSU, to challenges facingcommunities. Citizens serving on county Extension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners,the state through Michigan State University and federally through the US Department of Agriculture.
4-H for all—continued
Jennifer Curtis has been involved in 4-H for 11 years. She’s got a positive outlook and also happens to have cerebral palsy. She has loved being involved in 4-H goat, sheep, poultry, dog, pocket pet and cat projects. Curtis is a teen leader and a teen superintendent for goats, conservation and nonlivestock projects.
She has attended 4-H Capital Experience and the Citizenship Washington Focus trip, where she learned about the state and federal government. Her favorite citizenship activity is the Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council (M4YCC), of which she’s been a member for the past three years.
Through the M4YCC she’s met teens from across the state. They research conservation topics and present their findings to the state legislature. Thanks to her involvement in the M4YCC and other 4-H citizenship projects Curtis plans to attend MSU next year and major in environmental policy.
Lennon Gildea is a 12-year-old sixth grader who uses a wheelchair due to Duchene’s muscular dystrophy. He just completed his first year in the 4-H rabbit project. When he joined 4-H he didn’t have a rabbit, but thanks to the generosity of others he now cares for and exhibits 18 bunnies. He also enjoys making new friends at rabbit club meetings.
At this year’s Barry County Fair Lennon enjoyed taking his turn tending to all of his club’s rabbits, using the time to learn more about rabbit breeds. He shared his knowledge with visitors as they came into the barn.
Due to Duchene’s effects on his arms, he was allowed to use a stuffed animal during showmanship competition and was excited to receive a Reserve Champion honor for his mini lop rabbit. / Lennon has learned to be a better public speaker, is more patient, gained self confidence, and is more responsible. He studies to be more knowledgeable about rabbits, and to do his best when competing.
These youngsters represent just a few of the many young people who are improving themselves, their community and their futures through 4-H. Their testimonies demonstrate the value that 4-H can make in any young person’s life.
Contact: Kathy Walters-Surratt
Barry County MSU Extension Staff
Laura Anderson, Family and Consumer Science Educator
Jan Hartough, Community Development
Cathy Liceaga, Family Nutrition Program Associate
Dennis Pennington, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator and Interim Director
Kathy Pennington, 4-H Program Associate
Kathy Walters Surratt, Children, Youth & Family Programs, 4-H Educator
Linda Fisher, Office Manager
Wendy Blakely, Secretary

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Thomas G. Coon, Extension Director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824